Downtown Millburn presents budget for 2014

For another year in a row, the Downtown Millburn Development Alliance has kept the expenses in its annual budget from increasing.

The organization's projected budget for 2014 is $255,128, according to information presented during the Millburn Township Committee meeting Feb. 4. The 2014 budget is approximately $10,000 less than the organization's 2013 budget.

A public hearing of the budget is scheduled for March 4 at the Township Committee meeting.

Millburn Township Committeeman Theodore Bourke told The Item of Millburn and Short Hills Feb. 17, the elimination of the DMDA's executive director position a year-and-a-half ago has freed up money in the budget. That money now goes toward marketing initiatives, events and streetscape projects.

"It was a pretty bold move to change the organization structure the way that they did," Bourke explained. "I supported that move."

"They've dealt with the growing pains," noted Bourke about the change.

He said the growing pains will settle because the organization is learning how to adapt with the new administrative structure.

The assessments on local businesses in the Special Improvement District portion of the budget is $195,000 — the same as it was in 2013.

DMDA officers are currently talking to restaurant owners in the downtown area about hosting a 'Restaurant Week' this autumn.

"So far restaurants have been open to the idea," said DMDA president Harry Roth.

Roth replaced former president Gina Colabelli, who now serves as an officer in the organization. Other events being planned this year include a sidewalk sale, the Farmers Market, "Girls Night Out," a Trick-or-Treat for preschoolers and the annual "Snowflake Parade." Projected d expenses for these events total $38,600. Of the amount, $6,000 will go toward a potential "to be determined" event this spring. Roth explained this money will either become surplus or will be used for something else in the budget if the organization does not host a spring event. This event would be in addition to "Girls Night Out," which is usually held in May.

The DMDA will host its annual Farmers Market starting in June; however, there will be some changes. Now that the parking deck in Municipal Lot 2 is completed, the market will move back to being held on Tuesdays in Municipal Lot 1. For the past two years, the market was in Municipal Lot 6 on Fridays while construction for the parking deck was going on. The market for this year has changed its hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be extended into the second week of November. Previously, the market has concluded during the last week of October.

Other projects the organization plans on doing in 2014 are extensive plantings in the flower pots on street corners in the downtown area, maintenance work such as sweeping and picking up litter, and increasing signage in the downtown which will better direct motorists about where to park when patronizing the municipality. Projected expenses for these projects is $10,000 for planting which includes both purchasing the plants as well as planting them, $15,000 for sidewalk sweeping and maintenance, $1,000 for way-finding signage, and $40,828 for other visual enhancements.

Meter feeding in the downtown by business employees has been an issue in the past that merchants have complained about to the Township Committee. Former Millburn Township Committeeman Tom McDermott said last year the committee recommended business owners to police the issue themselves and to remind their employees to get parking permits and park in designated areas. McDermott said the same is true for this year.

The DMDA will also continue to enhance its website, www.downtownmillburn.org and its social media marketing initiatives. Roth said analytics show the website gets 2,000 hits a month, and its hits continue to increase. The organization uses its website to promote events happening in the downtown such as "Girls Night Out," which is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. Money projected in the budget for marketing is $38,000.

"The DMDA has great ideas. Going forward, they are in a good financial position to do positive things for the downtown," said Bourke.